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Hiring Detour: How Culture Shapes Every Hire

Dental Drill Bits with Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury

Release Date: 08/25/2025

[REPLAY] Job Descriptions Might Be Costing You Great Hires show art [REPLAY] Job Descriptions Might Be Costing You Great Hires

Dental Drill Bits with Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury

Episode Summary: In this episode of Dental Drill Bits, Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury explore the often-overlooked power of a well-crafted job description. They explain why generic or outdated descriptions can set your practice up for failure—creating confusion, legal risk, and missed hiring opportunities. You’ll learn what must be included, how to stay compliant, and why being transparent about your expectations (including physical demands and performance metrics) is key to attracting the right candidates. If you're serious about improving your hiring process and retaining top...

info_outline [REPLAY] Marketing Your Practice to Top Talent show art [REPLAY] Marketing Your Practice to Top Talent

Dental Drill Bits with Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury

  Episode Summary: In this episode of Dental Drill Bits, Sandy Pardue and Dana Pardue tackle one of the most underestimated tools in the hiring process—your job ad. They explain why hiring should be treated like a marketing campaign and how your job postings either attract or repel the very people you are trying to hire. From crafting compelling headlines and utilizing creative job titles to understanding hiring psychology, Sandy and Dana share strategies to elevate your job ads and recruit with intention. They also explore the power of nontraditional hiring sources and...

info_outline [REPLAY] Marketing Can't Save You From a Bad Phone Call show art [REPLAY] Marketing Can't Save You From a Bad Phone Call

Dental Drill Bits with Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury

Plan Forward The #1 membership plan platform for dental practices — simple, secure, and patient-friendly. 👉  Mango Voice VoIP for dental practices that want fewer missed calls, better patient communication, and stronger scheduling. 👉  📲 Join the conversation! Drop your favorite phone call tip or share a “worst call ever” moment in the Dental Drill Bits Facebook Group—your post could inspire our next episode!      

info_outline [Replay] Wasted Time, Open Time, and Maximizing Your Schedule show art [Replay] Wasted Time, Open Time, and Maximizing Your Schedule

Dental Drill Bits with Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury

Episode Title: Wasted Time, Open Time, and Maximizing Your Schedule Episode Description: Welcome to another exciting episode of Dental Drill Bits! This week, Sandy Pardue is joined by a very special guest—Dana Pardue, the original co-host and HR business professional. Together, they kick off the new season with a deep dive into one of the most critical topics for dental practices: managing open time in your schedule. Discover actionable tips to identify, track, and eliminate wasted time in your practice. Whether you're dealing with broken appointments, patient no-shows, or...

info_outline Dental Christmas Parties of Christmas Past show art Dental Christmas Parties of Christmas Past

Dental Drill Bits with Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury

In this festive episode, Dana and Sandy unwrap the unforgettable world of dental office Christmas parties — the good, the chaotic, and the “HR-will-hear-about-this” kind of moments. From table fires to haunted hotels, over-served team members, questionable Ubers, party buses, shopping sprees, and meaningful low-budget celebrations, they share what makes a holiday party truly memorable while keeping your practice safe, appreciated, and drama-free. Whether you’re planning a simple potluck or an all-out evening event, this episode gives you the ideas, warnings, and best practices to make...

info_outline Annual Planning Power Moves: How to Build a Stronger Practice in 2026 show art Annual Planning Power Moves: How to Build a Stronger Practice in 2026

Dental Drill Bits with Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury

Episode Summary In this strategic and energizing episode of Dental Drill Bits, Dana and Sandy unpack one of the most overlooked drivers of practice stability and growth, your annual planning session. Together, they walk through the questions, metrics, team conversations, and leadership decisions that set the tone for a productive, organized, and profitable new year. Sandy shares her trusted framework for evaluating practice performance, identifying bottlenecks, and turning missed opportunities into measurable goals. Dana breaks down how to communicate the importance of an annual planning...

info_outline Why Some Dentists Love Dentistry (and Others Can’t Wait to Leave) show art Why Some Dentists Love Dentistry (and Others Can’t Wait to Leave)

Dental Drill Bits with Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury

In this eye-opening episode of Dental Drill Bits, Dana and Sandy Pardue tackle a topic few talk about openly — why some dentists genuinely love their profession while others can’t wait to get out. Drawing from Sandy’s experience consulting with over 600 dental practices, they reveal the defining difference: the dentists who thrive understand business and leadership, not just clinical care. Together, they unpack why mastering people skills, systems, and practice management can transform dentistry from stressful to deeply fulfilling. From learning how to manage money and motivate your...

info_outline Breaking Down Walls: Communicating Without Conflict show art Breaking Down Walls: Communicating Without Conflict

Dental Drill Bits with Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury

In this episode of Dental Drill Bits, Dana and Sandy dive into one of the most challenging scenarios in any dental practice—when a team member refuses a task that’s part of their role. Inspired by a real Dentaltown post, Sandy breaks down what’s really behind these moments, from unclear expectations and lack of training to blurred lines of authority. She shares how leaders can respond calmly, communicate clearly, and reset accountability without damaging trust. Dana adds perspective on balancing empathy and authority, and how understanding communication styles can help prevent tension...

info_outline The Pulse of the Practice: Balancing Team Energy and Measurable Success show art The Pulse of the Practice: Balancing Team Energy and Measurable Success

Dental Drill Bits with Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury

In this episode of Dental Drill Bits, Dana and Sandy discuss the importance of measuring team energy and performance metrics in dental practices. They emphasize that while patient care is paramount, tracking statistics can enhance care quality and team morale. The conversation explores the concept of buy-in from team members, the significance of accountability, and how metrics can serve as tools for improvement rather than judgment. The episode concludes with actionable steps for practices to foster a positive culture through measurement and celebration of achievements. takeaways Your team's...

info_outline When Negativity Spreads: How Complaining About Patients Hurts Your Practice Culture show art When Negativity Spreads: How Complaining About Patients Hurts Your Practice Culture

Dental Drill Bits with Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury

💡 Episode Summary: In this week’s episode of Dental Drill Bits, Dana Pardue and Sandy Pardue tackle a topic every dental team faces but rarely talks about — complaining about patients. What starts as harmless venting can quietly poison your team’s morale and even drive productivity down. Dana and Sandy unpack how negativity spreads through emotional contagion, why gossip never stops at patients, and how leaders can recognize when venting has crossed into toxicity. Sandy shares real-world examples from decades in consulting — from Dentaltown discussions to lessons learned working...

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More Episodes

In this episode of Dental Drill Bits, Dana Salisbury and Sandy Pardue discuss the challenges of hiring and retaining new employees in dental practices. They explore the reasons behind high turnover rates, the importance of effective onboarding, and creating a welcoming workplace culture. The conversation emphasizes the need for structured training plans and the impact of workplace bullying on employee retention. The hosts also highlight the financial costs associated with poor hiring practices and the significance of enhancing the candidate experience.

Key Takeaways

  • Stop blaming the applicant and look at your own processes
  • Onboarding is crucial for employee retention
  • A welcoming culture can significantly impact new hires
  • The cost of hiring mistakes can be substantial
  • Workplace bullying can drive new employees away
  • Structured training plans are essential for new hires
  • Communication during the hiring process is key
  • Involve existing staff in the hiring process
  • Always welcome potential candidates regardless of openings
  • Evaluate your practices to improve employee satisfaction

 

Event Spotlight: Front Desk Pro – Las Vegas, NV – November 7

Join Sandy in Las Vegas for Front Desk Pro, a high energy, high impact training event designed to level up your front desk systems and skills.


Special Listener Discount: Save $100 with code Secret Sauce (two words, both capitalized).
Beautiful CAD CAM facility, just off the Strip with nearby affordable hotels.

Episode Sponsors

A big thank you to our show sponsors for helping bring Dental Drill Bits to you each week:

  • Plan Forward – The membership plan experts helping practices boost revenue and patient loyalty. https://www.planforward.io/

  • Mango Voice – The smart, all in one business phone system designed for dental practices. https://mangovoice.com/

  • Identity Dental Marketing – Stand out, get noticed, and attract your ideal patients with custom marketing strategies. https://identitydental.com/